Brush cleaning device



United States Patent 3,058,134 BRUSH CLEANRNG DEVICE Szczepan Wozniak-Kennett, Estudio de Bellesa Rennek, Av. Fco. de Miranda Ed. Sokoa, Caracas, Venezuela Filed Oct. 7, 1960, Ser. No. 61,190 11 Claims. (Cl. 15-38) This invention relates to a sterilizing and cleaning device for barbering implements, an outstanding feature comprising a brush cleaner.

The device comprises a housing having a sterilizing and disinfecting lamp and is compartmented to store and Clean such barbering implements as brushes, shears, clip pers and combs, exposed in such storage to ultraviolet light for sterilizing and storing such implements handily available from separate compartments.

Outstanding among the novel features of this invention is a motor driven brush cleaner, ruggedly constructed to allow cleaning of brushes of various sizes and shapes without need for any specialized skill to effect the cleaning thereof.

The invention is further described in relation to the drawings in which:

FIG. 1 is an elevational view with internally operative portions shown in dotted lines;

FIG. 2 is a plan view of the device;

FIG. 3 is an end view with some of the compartments open for illustrating their operation;

FIG. 4 is a diagram of a detail in perspective illustrating operation of the cleaning brush view; and

FIG. 5 is a sectional view of a detail of brush assembly.

Referring to the drawings, the device comprises a housing formed of any strong metal such as medium gage sheet metal, plastic paneling or the like having a bottom 12, a top 14, a front wall 16, a rear wall 18, a left hand end wall 20, a right hand end wall offset to a lower portion 22 continuing in an upper indented end wall portion 24, the offset compartment formed thereby having a top 26.

The offset right hand portion has four rotary brushes 54 constructed to rotate, each having an axial spindle shaft 30 through which each brush is journaled in upper bearings 32 for rotation, the bearings 32 being secured to the upper sheet metal top surface 26. As shown, the four rotary brushes 54 are mounted at the corners of a square so that the extending bristle peripheral area of each is substantially tangential to two others as shown in FIGS. 4 and 5, leaving an approximate open portion 34 between them. The upper sheet metal compartment plate 26 has an annular opening 36 surrounded by a protective rubber collar 38. Each of the brushes 54 has a pulley 49 mounted at an intermediate height of its spindle shaft 30 above a cover plate 46. As thus described, the four brushes are mounted on a vertical axis for rotation by four pulleys 49 disposed at the same intermediate height on their spindle shafts 30.

An electric motor 42 is mounted with its armature axis vertical, the motor being disposed centrally and to the rear, of the housing 10 with its rotary axis preferably aligned with the center of the four brushes.

The brushes are disposed in a fluid-tight annular housing having cylindrical walls 44 and a bottom 45 and an upper confining plate 46 which may be imperf-orate except for the shafting 34) extending therethrough and the opening 36. The plate 46 is bolted to the metal bottom 12 by bolts 1%, sealing the container 44 fluid-tight for purposes of containing disinfecting liquid or brush cleaner fluid, as may be desired. The upper armature end of the motor 42 may have a driving pulley 5t) thereon. A driving belt 52 is entrained about the motor pulley 50 and each of the brush pulleys 40, and is guided through guide rollers 48 as shown in FIG. 2, thereby completing the drive for rotation of each of the brushes 54 by the motor 42.

In operation of the brush cleaning device the brush is held by its handle and inserted through the opening 36 in the direction of the arrow (FIG. 1) to a position between the several cleaning brushes 54 in the open center portion 34. As thus held, the extending bristles of each brush 54 comb, curry and clean the hair and dirt particles from the brush to be cleaned as it is held against the rotating bristles. It will be noted that the brush to be cleaned can be held in any contacting position without particular need for orienting the same and may even be twisted from position to position by the operator.

The series of four rotating brushes are combined with means for continuously cleaning them to remove hair and dirt. For this purpose a curry device 92 for the rotary cleaning brushes 54 is mounted beneath the several rotary brushes. As shown in FIGS. 4 and 5, the curry device 92 comprises an annular ring bracket 94. It is supported from beneath the plate 46 by two vertical rodlike arms 98 which bend right angularly to horizontal radial arms connected to the ring 94 for its horizontal support beneath the brushes 54, the ring 94 being supported concentric with the opening 34 between the brushes 54. The ring 94 firmly supports a conical row or layer of bristles 96 which stand obliquely upward and inward from the ring, the bristles 96 extending to a point in the opening 34 above the bottom of the brushes 54 whereby the bristles 96 intercept the lower bristles of the brushes 54 and comb, curry, brush, trap, and remove hair, and also displace dirt particles which have descended to the lower ends of the brushes 54, thereby continuously cleaning them. The bristles 96 may be of strong organic fiber or metal, and be of the same denier as those of the brushes 5'4, but are usually heavier.

To further aid in the cleaning both of the brushes applied through the opening 34 for their cleaning as well as to maintain the brushes and combined cleaning unit clean, the imperforate container body 44, 45 is filled with cleaning liquid which can be water, solvent, or a solution of disinfectant. The cleaning liquid is poured into the opening 36 to fill the container 44, 45, but usually to an intermediate height to the top of the brushes or less, as desired. The used cleaning liquid is withdrawn through tube 93, of metal or rubber, for disposal.

The device includes a storage means for the clean brushes. That storage means comprises a door 56 which may be swung open from the front of the housing as shown in FIG. 3 upon hinges 58 and moved inward. to closed dotted line operation as shown in FIG. 3 when closed and operated with the knob 59. The hinged compartment comprises side walls 60 and a perforated rear wall 62, enclosing a brush repository chamber which may be compartmented by several horizontal supporting rods 64 which extend from the front wall 56 to the rear 62, bracing the same and dividing the hinged box-likebody into several small compartments as a hinged brush supporting rack 57. Brushes mounted in that hinged compartment 57 are exposed through the top and through the rear wall 62 to the rays of a disinfecting lamp 86, and for purposes of further exposure, the wall 62 is perforated with large perforations or it may be a screen allowing even greater exposure. The brushes are commonly stored in the compartment 57 after first cleaning in the brush cleaning area section. The brushes withdrawn from that section are usually wet with the cleaning solution and it is necessary to dry them. For this purpose the bottom of the rack 57 is perforated with large perforations to allow easy air flow and the perforated bottom is bent into an arcuate trough 65 which extends from side to side 60 as a duct for drying air circulated therethrough. Motor 101 driving a fan -102 mounted near the inner side 60 is arranged to blow air axially through the trough-like passage 65 so that the air passes first axially along the trough 65 and then upward into the rack 57 in its normal circulating path, whereby to aid in the rapid drying of the brushes mounted therein.

The upper center portion of the device comprises a scissor or clipper storing compartment 66 which is a perforated cubicle having box-like walls 68, the perforations being large enough to retain the cutting and clipping implements allowing exposure to disinfecting light rays within the cabinet. The compartment 66 has hinged lid 70 with a knob 72 for lifting the same, the lid being hinged for closing and opening when using the compartmented portion 66.

The left hand portion of the device has an upright cylindrical compartment 74 comprising perforated annular walls in which is mounted disc-like horizontal lower plate support 76 to which is centrally attached a vertical reciprocating rod 78 extending from the center of the plate 76 at the bottom to the top of the compartment 74. The upper end of rod 78 is fitted to the center of an imperforated disc-like compartment cover 30 having an operating knob 82 thereon. The compartment 74 is used to store combs which may be lifted out of the compartment 74 by grasping the knob 82, raising the lid 80, rod and support plate 76 attached thereto, and on which the combs are disposed, drawing them upward out of the compartment for removal for use. It is sometimes preferred to have at least a portion of the cylindrical compartment wall 74 imperforate for purposes of retaining a disinfecting solution in which the combs may be deposited for their disinfection, or where the cylindrical Wall 74 is perforated, in which the combs are irradiated with disinfecting light rays from lamp -86.

For disinfecting the several units the disinfecting lamp 86 such as an ultra-violet lamp tube is mounted in some central position with respect to the several implement compartments, but desirably above the brush storage compartment as shown, for purposes of disinfecting the several barbering implements, particularly the brushes. For instance, as thus mounted, the rays are directed down upon brushes in compartment 57 but the rays will also disinfect implements contained in the perforated wall compartments 68 and 74 when the latter is made with perforated walls.

Thus, conveniently the several barbering implements, most important being the brushes used in barbering, are conveniently handled, cleaned, dried, and stored and disinfected by being placed in the several compartments, or the implements, particularly the brushes being first inserted in the rotary brush section for cleaning by rotary brushes 54 as desired.

Suitable electric switches and wiring are mounted on the cabinet, not shown, for actuating the motor 42, motor 101 and disinfecting lamp 86 by way of wires 88 and 90.

In typical operation of the device, a brush to be cleaned, holding it by its handle, is inserted through the opening 36 centrally between the rotary brushes, in the central open area 34, held stationary or rotated by hand with varied brushing exposures, thereby having hair and other particles of accumulated dirt removed therefrom. The cleaned brush, wet with cleaning solution is then inserted into the hinged storaged portion 57, which when closed as in the dotted line portion of FIG. 3, is stored beneath the lamp 86 and sterilized thereby. A current of air produced by fan 102 soon dries it. Then, when the barber needs a brush, he will open the swinging compartment portion 57, grasping knob 59 and, opening the same, can extract a brush which has been cleaned and dis infected ready for use.

Simultaneously, in compartment 68 other barbering implements, scissors or clippers, even after brushing and dipping in cleaning solution through opening 36, if desired are stored, and will have been sterilized at least by the light rays, and are ready for use. Combs placed in compartment 74 are similarly sterilized and ready for use by lifting knob 82 which brings the combs up and out of chamber 74. Combs too can be cleaned further either by dipping in cleaning liquid in compartments 44 and 45 and stored in perforated wall compartment 74 or the compartment walls 74 can be imperforate to retain disinfecting liquid as desired.

Various modifications will occur to those skilled in the art. Accordingly, it is intended that the drawings herein be regarded as illustrative and not limiting except as defined in the claims appended hereto.

I claim:

1. A brush cleaner comprising at least three rotary brushes mounted with vertical parallel rotary axes for driving rotation with their bristles each in tangential contact defining a space sized to receive a hairbrush in frictional contact with rotating bristles of the contiguous brushes into which the brush to be cleaned is inserted and a cleaning device for said rotary brushes comprising combing bristles mounted to contact said brushes only at their lower ends to remove accumulated hair therefrom.

2. A brush cleaning device comprising four rotary brushes mounted with their axes vertical and parallel to each other, each axis being disposed at corners of a square with their bristles extending radially from each axis in tangential rotary contact, thereby providing an open brush cleaning area between them at the center of the square, brush cleaning means contacting only the lower ends of the vertically mounted rotary brushes for removing accumulated hair therefrom, and means for rotating the brushes.

3. A brush cleaning device as defined in claim 2 wherein the said brush cleaning means comprises an annular brush comprising bristles disposed conically and mounted beneath the four brushes with the conical cleaning bristles extending into the open center portion between the brushes in combing contact with the lower bristle portion of each.

4. Brush cleaning device as defined in claim 2 in which the several brushes are disposed in an imperforatc container to contain brush cleaning liquid in which the brushes are rotated in the brush cleaning operation.

5. Brush cleaning device as defined in claim 3 in which the several brushes are disposed in an imperforate container to contain brush cleaning liquid in which the brushes are rotated in the brush cleaning operation.

6. Device as defined in claim 1 wherein the rotary brushes are mounted within an imperforate housing adapted to contain cleaning fluid in which the brushes may dip in their cleaning operation, said housing having an opening at the top centrally of said brushes through which the brush to be cleaned may be inserted in the cleaning thereof.

7. Brush cleaning device as defined in claim 1 including a main housing having storage means for clean brushes and a subhousing within the main housing surrounding said rotary brushes, said subhousing being imperforate and thereby adapted to contain cleaning fiuid in which the rotary brushes may dip in their cleaning operation, said imperforate housing having an opening at the top centrally of the vertical axes of said brushes through which the brush to be cleaned may be inserted.

8. Brush cleaning device as defined in claim 1 including a main housing having storage means for clean brushes and a subhousing within the main housing surrounding said rotary brushes, said subhousing being imperforate and thereby adapted to contain cleaning fluid in which the rotary brushes may dip in their cleaning operation, said imperforate housing having an opening at the top centrally of the vertical axes of said brushes through which the brush to be cleaned may be inserted, said main housing having perforate partitioning elements adapted to store and support the clean brushes and through which air may be circulated to enhance the rapid drying of the clean brushes.

9. Brush cleaning device as defined in claim 1 including a main housing having storage means for clean brushes and a subhousing within the main housing surrounding said rotary brushes, said subhousing being imperforate and thereby adapted to contain cleaning fluid in which the rotary brushes may dip in their cleaning operation, said imperforate housing having an opening at the top centrally of the vertical axes of said brushes through which the brush to be cleaned may be inserted, said main housing having perforate partitioning elements adapted to store and support the clean brushes, and a disinfecting ultra-violet light ray lamp positioned to radiate disinfecting light rays upon said cleaned brushes.

10. Brush cleaning device as defined in claim 1 including a main housing having storage means for clean brushes and a subhousing within the main housing surrounding said rotary brushes, said subhousing being imperforate and thereby adapted to contain cleaning fluid in which the rotary brushes may dip in their cleaning op eration, said imperforate housing having an opening at the top centrally of the vertical axes of said brushes through which the brush to be cleaned may be inserted, said main housing having perforate partitioning elements adapted to store and support the clean brushes through which air may be circulated to enhance the rapid drying of the clean brushes, and a blower means forcing the circulation of drying air through the perforated partitioning elements for accelerated drying of the cleaned brushes.

11. Brush cleaning device as defined in claim 1 in cluding a main housing having storage means for clean brushes and a subhousing within the main housing surrounding said rotary brushes, said subhousing being imperforate and thereby adapted to contain cleaning fluid in which the rotary brushes may dip in their cleaning operation, said imperforate housing having an opening at the top centrally of the vertical axes of said brushes through which the brush to be cleaned may be inserted, said main housing having perforate partitioning elements adapted to store and support the clean brushes through which air may be circulated to enhance the rapid drying of the clean brushes, said partitioning elements being mounted from one wall to said main housing, said wall being hinged to said housing as a rack for hinged opening and closing to provide ready access to said cleaned and stored brushes.

References Cited in the file of this patent UNITED STATES PATENTS 668,189 Kayser Feb. 19, 1901 1,542,025 Ballman June 16, 1925 1,662,418 Grasser Mar. 13, 1928 2,952,859 Alcamo Sept. 20, 1960 FOREIGN PATENTS 657,139 Great Britain Sept. 12, 1951 979,417 France Dec. 6, 1950 

